As the monsoon advances, dengue cases are on the rise in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath has tested positive for dengue and is recuperating at home. According to Syed Sirajuddin Madani, BBMP’s chief health officer for public health, Nath’s initial symptoms of fatigue and fever were mistaken for work-related stress, but a dengue test later confirmed the infection. Bengaluru has reported a significant rise in dengue cases over the past two months, with June alone accounting for 1,036 cases, doubling the number from the previous year.
Dengue Threat in Telangana
Health experts have noted a cyclical pattern in dengue outbreaks, predicting a severe season this year in Telangana, akin to the 2019 outbreak with over 13,000 cases. Already, more than 600 cases have been reported this season. Dr. M Karuna, a pediatrician, highlighted that dengue surges typically occur every four to five years, and with no significant jump last year, a major outbreak is anticipated. Districts like Medak, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Kamareddy have already reported cases.
Increased Severity of Infections
Dengue has four strains, allowing for multiple infections over a lifetime, with each subsequent infection potentially being more severe. A state-run hospital doctor noted that patients previously infected twice are now experiencing more severe symptoms upon re-infection. Experts attribute the delayed surge in dengue cases to the Covid-19 pandemic, which kept people indoors and postponed the outbreak. Dr. Kiran Madhala, secretary general of the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association, warned that reduced exposure in recent years has lowered immunity, contributing to the current increase in dengue infections.